Online Casino Baccarat 101:  A Beginner’s Guide

Online Casino BaccaratOnline casino baccarat is among the most popular of all the casino games. There are many variations to the game of online casino baccarat.  Two versions of the game, railway and deux, are skill-based, whereas the North American version of online casino baccarat are strictly games of chance.

Online casino baccarat, the game favored by the one and only James Bond, is a simple, yet very sophisticated game.  The player has limited betting options, which makes the game very easy to play.  You can bet on the banker’s card, your card, or you can bet on a tie between you and the banker.  To win the game, you need only obtain cards that have a total value that is the closest to 9.  Face cards have a value of 10, aces have a value of 1.  If the total count is ten or more the player must discard one.  The remaining card is the card value.

Online Casino Baccarat Terms

  1. Natural:  A natural hand consists of two cards that add up to 8 or 9.  Unless both hands are equal, a natural hand is an automatic win.  If the hands are equal, then the tie must be broken by drawing additional cards from the deck in order to determine a winner.
  2. Le Petit:  A score of 8 is referred to as Le petit. When you have Le Petit, your opponent cannot draw a third card.  Le Grande is a score of 9.
  3. Draw a card:  A third card can be drawn if your score is between 0 and 5 and nobody else scores Le petit or Le grand.
  4. Banker:  The banker is one of the two hands is a game of online casino baccarat.  The banker doesn’t have to be the dealer.
  5. Face cards:  Face cards include King, Queen, Jack and Tens.  The value of face cards is zero.
  6. Player:  The hand that is not the banker is referred to as the “player.”

Online Casino Baccarat Tips and Strategy

  1. Avoid spending money on so-called “winning baccarat systems” as they are usually just a scam and won’t lead to big winnings.
  2. Learn the rules of online baccarat before you start playing.  Familiarize yourself with the terminology, some of which is included above.
  3. Practice by playing online casino baccarat for free before wagering for real money.
  4. Know your odds before placing your bets so that you understand the probability of winning each hand.
  5. Money management is an extremely important element of good strategy and should never be overlooked, no matter which game you play.  Set a limit for each gambling session and stick to it no matter what.

The fact that online casino baccarat has a reputation for being a sophisticated and somewhat exclusive game can be intimidating.  Casinos will try to give the impression that this game is special and is reserved only for the rich and famous.  This is simply not true.  Online Baccarat is a simple game to play and can provide lots of quality entertainment for players from all walks of life.

Online Baccarat Myths – Discover the Real Deal

Online BaccaratWhen people describe the game of online baccarat they will often reference James Bond.  This is because baccarat was the game favored by the iconic English spy.  Bond represents the ultimate in style and prestige.  Baccarat’s association with the notorious spy has both helped and hurt the game.  It has definitely increased the profile of the game and contributed greatly to its popularity.  However, it has also made the game seem far more intimidating to play than it actually is.  But that is just one of the many common misconceptions when it comes to the game of online baccarat.  Below are some other myths that have persisted throughout the years.

Online Baccarat Myth #1: The Martingale System

If you’ve spent any time researching betting strategy you will no doubt be familiar with the Martingale system.  This controversial strategy can be applied to many different games including blackjack and baccarat.  It is based on the idea of doubling one’s bet after each loss so that a win would not only cover all previous loses, but would also generate a profit equal to the original wager.  Because the Martingale system only works at tables that have no maximum betting limits, you’d have to do some looking around to even locate such a table. You also need a substantial bankroll that lets you cover the exponential cost of doubling your wagers. Most players don’t realize until it’s too late just how fast a $10 bet can turn into $1,000.

Online Baccarat Myth #2: Counting Cards

Card counting is highly effective way for blackjack players to beat the casino.  Contrary to popular belief, the practice is not illegal.  However, most casino prohibit card counting one, which does suggest that it does indeed work.  And yet, because baccarat and blackjack have some things in common people will often mistakenly believe that the principles of card counting can be applied to both games.  This is definitely not the case.  Unlike in blackjack, the cards used in a game of baccarat don’t get returned to the shoe.  So not only is card counting virtually impossible to do in a land-based game of baccarat, it’s entirely impossible to do with online baccarat.

Online Baccarat Myth #3: Profitability

All casino games have a house advantage.  This means that over an extended period of time, everyone loses.  That being said, baccarat holds just a 1.24% advantage over the player.  This makes online baccarat a far more profitable game than other casino games such as roulette and can be a much better investment than slots.

Online Baccarat Myth #4: It’s a Highroller’s Game

As was stated at the very beginning of this article, online baccarat has a reputation of being a glamorous, exclusive card game.  The simple truth is that you need little-to-no-skill to play online baccarat. You don’t even need to know what the cards mean before you start playing; it’s that easy.  So don’t be intimidated by the game.  It’s one of the most accommodating games you’ll find at the casino!